Page 12 of Guarded By the Bigfoot
I shoved Parker behind me as the magic lashed out, a whip of shadow cutting across my shoulder. Pain seared through me, but I forced golden energy into the breach, driving the darkness back with a burst of raw power.
“Brock!” Her voice reached me through the haze of pain as I sank to one knee, barely able to hold myself upright. Warm hands cupped my face, grounding me as the world tilted. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing.” But my vision swam, and I could feel her trembling as she held me. “We need to leave. It’s not safe here.”
“Take my hand.”
I nodded, trying to stand. My legs buckled, but Parker caught me, her small frame somehow supporting me. Her touch burned through the exhaustion, easing some of the weight pressing down on me.
“Easy, big guy.” Her voice was gentle as she guided me away from the clearing. “Your turn to let someone else help.”
The trek down the mountain passed in a blur of pain and Parker’s steady presence. By the time we reached the lodge, my fur was damp with sweat and my hands shook with fatigue. But none of that stopped me from watching her. This fierce little human had faced horrors without flinching.
“Sit.” Her tone left no room for argument as she guided me to the couch. She disappeared into the kitchen, the sound of running water and clattering cabinets reaching my ears.
“Where do you keep your first aid supplies?” she called.
“Don’t need them.” I tried to straighten, but the world tilted again. “Guardian healing...”
“...is obviously not working fast enough.” She reappeared with a makeshift kit and a mug of steaming tea that smelled of Calla’s healing blend. The determination in her gaze was impossible to argue with. “Let me see your shoulder.”
I should have protested. The Guardian wasn’t meant to show weakness, least of all to humans. But something in her quiet insistence disarmed me, and I found myself shifting to give her better access.
Her touch was gentle as she cleaned the gash. Her fingers trembled only slightly, betraying how much the events at the Veil had shaken her. “I saw how that magic affected you,” she said, her voice softer now. “How long have you been fighting this alone?”
“Centuries.” The word slipped out before I could stop it. “I protect the Veil. It’s what I was chosen for.”
“And who protects you?” Her fingers stilled on my shoulder, her eyes locking with mine. The concern in her gaze hit harder thanthe Dreadnull’s threat, stealing the air from my lungs. “Who makes sure you’re okay while you’re trying to save everyone else?”
No one had ever asked me that before. The question opened something raw inside me, a vulnerability I’d buried for longer than I could remember. I caught her hand where it rested on my shoulder, my thumb brushing her wrist. “Parker...”
A howl shattered the quiet, closer than before, carrying the weight of dark power. I stiffened, exhaustion momentarily forgotten as I surged to my feet. Parker stood with me, her body tense but her expression resolute.
“You need to rest,” she said firmly, stepping in front of me as if she could shield me from what was coming. “You can barely stand.”
“And you need to stay safe.” Without thinking, I cupped her face, my thumb brushing her cheek. The warmth of her skin burned into me, grounding me even as the Veil’s corruption threatened to pull me apart. “I can’t...” The words caught in my throat. I can’t lose you. I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt.
Understanding flickered in her eyes, along with something deeper. For a moment, we stood frozen in thick, charged silence.
The spell broke when Tali, my assistant, yelled from behind us. “Excuse me!” Her voice pierced the air and shattered the fragile moment.
I pulled back from Parker as Tali bustled in, her wings fluttering, arms full with a battered duffel bag. Her red hair was windswept, and she had that look that meant she was about to deliver bad news.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, not sounding sorry at all. “But I’ve got what’s left of Ms. Woods’s stuff from the Jeep. The mechanics down in the village took one look and...” She winced. “Let’s just say they suggested donating it for parts.”
Parker’s shoulders slumped. “That bad?”
“The front end looks like you tried to headbutt a mountain. Which, technically, you did.” Tali set the bag down and pulled out a cracked cell phone. “Found this wedged under the seat. Screen’s busted, but it still turns on.”
“Right, introductions,” I said, stepping forward. “Parker, this is Tali, my assistant, and the general mischief coordinator. Tali, meet Parker.”
“The human who survived a Shade attack and managed to get our grumpy Guardian here all worked up? Trust me, I’ve heard plenty.” Tali’s grin was pure mischief. She thrust the bag toward Parker. “Salvaged most of your gear. The laptop’s toast, though.”
Parker grabbed the bag. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure I’d see any of this again.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Tali’s expression turned serious. “You’re basically stranded here until we can figure out transportation. The nearest rental place is three towns over, and with the Veil acting up, this guy stays...” She glanced at me meaningfully.
“We need to get you off this mountain.” I crossed my arms, trying to ignore how the movement pulled at my injured shoulder. “It’s not safe.”
